TAXI drivers could see their licences suspended if they fail to complete mandatory sex crime training.

Late last year Bournemouth council announced it would require cabbies to complete the free course on spotting signs of child sexual exploitation (CSE), taking place over several sessions from January to March this year.

While 840 drivers in the borough have completed the training, the authority said there are 50 who have not, who could see their licences suspended, revoked or not renewed.

The council report states: "Following publication of the Jay report regarding child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, Bournemouth Borough Council carried out a cross service review to identify any possible CSE issues in our own services.

"The taxi trade is a large group capable of identifying and reporting activities which may indicate occurrences of CSE given the necessary training.

"Having heard a presentation from the service manager for children and young people the board resolved that all public carriage drivers should receive such training and that it should be mandatory."

Councillors of the authority's licensing committee will consider options at a meeting on Tuesday, August 2.